Dalton Norman

The Scream franchise has been scaring up huge box office numbers since it debuted back in 1996, but which of the meta slasher flicks is the highest-grossing? Wes Craven's irreverent gem brilliantly skewers the pop culture obsession with horror, and makes commentary about the influence of media on society. Ironically, it also goofs on long-running franchises like Craven's own A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Meet the Parents wants you to think one character is the movie's villain, but the actual antagonist of the classic 2000s comedy is someone else entirely. Released in the year 2000 to rave reviews, Meet the Parents grossed over $300 million and launched one of the most successful comedy franchises of the decade. The basic principle is quite simple, and the movie explores one of life's most awkward moments.

The 2000s was a time of great box office success for the horror genre, and each year of the Aughts produced at least one blockbuster smash-hit. While the 1990s was all over the board with its horror output, the 2000s was a bit more stable. Major franchises and consistent trends dominated, and there were fewer surprises during the first decade of the new millennium. After many years of second-class status, the 2000s was the era when horror truly graduated to blockbuster territory.